"Although neglected in scholarly literature, the Latter Rain foreshadowed themes that emerged [in] the 1970s to the early 2000s.... Latter Rain participants - ousted by the Pentecostal denominations - became a diaspora of the Spirit" - The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism, 2014

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scroll all the way to the bottom and see LARGE, hard-to-find photos of the Pembertons, Earl Lee, Mom Beall, and others!

Monday, 13 May 2013

The Latter Rain Movement in its context

The momentous events that followed World War II were dizzying for their number and impact - Billy Graham's ministry was launched, a healing revival was sweeping the land, deeply spiritual revivals were occurring on evangelical college campuses, the State of Israel was born in 1948 ... and the Latter Rain Movement exploded onto the scene.

[Historian Richard Riss, a professor at Pillar University, has written books and articles about the revival events in the mid-twentieth century (two are featured in the right hand column of this blog). What follows here is a portion of an article he wrote forNew Wine magazine in October 1980 entitled, "The Latter Rain and Healing Revivals". The entire 36-page issue is available in .pdf format for free online.]

THE LATTER RAIN AND HEALING REVIVALSby Richard Riss
The Latter Rain and healing revivals constituted only two of many aspects of a widespread awakening occurring during the middle of this century. The healing revival was known for its emphasis upon healing, while the Latter Rain Movement was known for its use of the laying on of hands with prophecy. The healing revival precipitated the Latter Rain Movement, but both were really only two aspects of the same move of God.

The Post-war Awakening

In late 1949, revival broke out on the Island of Lewis and Harris, the largest of the Outer Hebridean group in Scotland. Indications of revival in the United States included the Forest Home College Briefing Conferences (which soon helped to bring about the formation of Campus Crusade for Christ) and the Pacific Palisades Conferences, at which scores of pastors and ministers of various denominations, only a few of whom were Pentecostal, gathered together several times a year for prayer and praise in an atmosphere of spiritual renewal.

Spontaneous revival was also breaking out on many college campuses. The revival at Wheaton College (February 5-12, 1950) received national publicity, appearing in the pages of Time and Life magazines. There were well over twenty other college revivals occurring at the same time.

The Healing Revival

Two or three years before these events, the healing revival had already begun to surface. Two of the

Branham, Roberts, Lindsay

earliest and most influential healing evangelists were William Branham and Oral Roberts. Other important figures included T. L. Osborn, Jack Coe, William Freeman, A. A. Allen, and David Nunn. Gordon Lindsay, who helped bring William Branham's ministry into widespread recognition, used his talent to supply the movement with a needed element of cohesiveness.

Branham's healing ministry began on May 7, 1946, when he had an angelic visitation in which he was told that he was to take the gift of divine healing to the people of the world. Within five weeks he was conducting healing revivals in St.Louis, and before long his meetings were attracting enormous crowds.

In 1947, Oral Roberts began his healing ministry. Branham testified that Roberts' "commanding power over demons, over disease and over sin was the most amazing thing he had ever seen in the work of God."

Many of the revivalists of the Healing Movement became associated with The Voice of Healingmagazine, published by Gordon Lindsay, the May 1952 issue of which had pictures on its cover of twenty healing evangelists. Two years previous to this time, as many as one thousand itinerant evangelists had attended a meeting sponsored by Lindsay in Kansas City.

The Latter Rain Movement

The Latter Rain Movement was catalyzed, in part, by Branham's campaigns in Vancouver, B. C. in the fall of 1947. His demonstrations of the gift of healing accompanied by knowledge of the illnesses of those present made a deep impression on the teachers of Sharon Bible School in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, who precipitated revival at their school after their return from the Branham meetings.

The Latter Rain Movement originated in the Sharon Orphanage and Schools as a spark igniting an explosion of revival among many Pentecostals. It spread quickly throughout North America and many places throughout the world, including the Middle East, India, Japan, Latin America, Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.

In the fall of 1947, George Hawtin, who had been president of a Bible School of the Pentecostal

George Hawtin

Assemblies of Canada, and P. G. Hunt, a former teacher of the same school, joined Herrick Holt of the North Battleford, Saskatchewan Church of the Foursquare Gospel in an independent work that Holt had already established. It was during this time that the students and faculty there began to gather to study the Word of God, earnestly praying and fasting, with fasts lasting many days, and in some cases, weeks. On February 12, 1948, according to George Hawtin's brother Ern, "God moved into our midst in this strange new manner." He continued as follows:

"Some students were under the power of God on the floor, others were kneeling in adoration and worship before the Lord. The anointing deepened until the awe of God was upon everyone. The Lord spoke to one of the brethren. 'Go and lay hands upon a certain student and pray for him.' While he was in doubt and contemplation one of the sisters who had been under the power of God went to the brother saying the same words, and naming the identical student he was to pray for. He went in obedience and a revelation was given concerning the student's life and future ministry. After this a long prophecy was given with minute details concerning the great things God was about to do. The pattern for the revival and many details concerning it were given."
After a day of searching the Scriptures, on February 14 "it seemed that all Heaven broke loose upon our souls, and heaven above came down to greet us." According to Ern Hawtin, "Soon a visible manifestation of gifts was received when candidates were prayed over, and many as a result began to be healed, as gifts of healing were received." This even was particularly significant in view of the scarcity of such manifestations since about 1935. As people became aware of these events, they flocked to North Battleford from all parts of North America and many parts of the world to the camp-meetings at Sharon publicized by The Sharon Star. Before long, these meetings became widely known, and the teachers from Sharon began receiving invitations to minister throughout North America.

in Detroit, Michigan travelled 2,500 miles by car to attend these meetings and returned to her church to spark revival there, attracting people from all parts of the country, including Ivan and Carlton Spencer (the founder of Elim Bible Institute and his son). They were at the Zion Evangelistic Fellowship in Providence, Rhode Island for a Pentecostal Prayer Fellowship gathering in December of 1948 when a latecomer to the gathering arrived and shared what he had heard of a visitation in Detroit. Ivan Spencer and his wife went to Detroit within a few days and returned to ignite revival at Elim Bible Institute.

By 1949, the North Battleford brethren were becoming less central to the movement, and leadership began to emerge in other circles, partly as a result of tendencies toward sectarianism among the North Battleford leaders. It was partly because of these tendencies that involvement in the Latter Rain soon became anathema among many denominational Pentecostals. However, such Pentecostal figures as Lewi Pethrus of Sweden continued to endorse the movement, and as leaders of the Apostolic Church, Elim Bible Institute in New York State and Bethesda Missionary Temple in Detroit, Michigan continued to move in revival, it progressed with lasting effects. Many of these ministries carried on and developed principles that had arisen in the Latter Rain Revival, becoming part of the Charismatic Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

[The remainder of the article - as well as the entire October 1980 issue of New Wine magazine - can be read for free online.]﻿

Moses Vegh addressing the Washington for Jesus rally on the National Mall in 1980 by Archibald Thackeray Moses Vegh, who is the head o...

James Beall tells Bethesda's history

Pastor James Lee Beall recalls the history of the church his mother founded - Bethesda Missionary Temple - in this talk given at a FGBMFI convention in Washington, DC in the 70s. ***Click on image*** for info on purchasing.

"Singing in the Spirit"

*** Click on the image *** to link to an article by Dr. Richard Riss that explains singing in the Spirit and the phenomenon in the Latter Rain revival known as, "the heavenly choir."

Pat Gruits' 96th birthday!

Patricia Beall Gruits, who was profiled on this blog in May 2013, turns 96 today, February 22, 2019. She is one of the few ministers remaining from the earliest days of the Latter Rain revival (others include: Charles Green, Hugh Layzell, Kayy Gordon, Ernest Gentile, and Donald Murphy). Her most recent book, Understanding the Winds of God, is pictured above. If you are interested in purchasing it *** click on the book's image. ***

Kevin Conner (1927 - 2019)

The Australian author and Bible teacher Kevin Conner went to be with the Lord February 18, 2019. *** Click on image *** to access audio recordings of his Bible teaching.

Kevin Conner's autobiography

Conner experienced the LRM in Sydney, Australia in 1951. He pastored the Waverly Christian Fellowship in Melbourne. An author of several books, he also taught for many years at Portland Bible College in Oregon.

Barbara Green (1933 - 2018)

Barbara Green went to be with the Lord on September 10, 2018. She and her husband Charles started Word of Faith Temple in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1953. Under the Green's 57-year leadership, that church went on to be the largest in the city. *** Click on image *** to see the slideshow that was shown at her memorial service

Word of Faith Temple, New Orleans, Louisiana

5600 Read Boulevard location

Garlon & Modest Pemberton, Houston, TX

The brothers were both gifted speakers, and they pastored in Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. They also were hosts of the Dixie Camp Meetings that drew people from across the globe.

Carl Neal, Baton Rouge, LA

Known for powerful preaching and prophecies, he pastored Evangel Temple.

Memorial service for M. D. Beall

***Click on image*** to hear the audio recording of the memorial service held for M. D. Beall on September 21, 1979. Speakers included Latter Rain pioneers Garlon Pemberton and Charles Green, as well as, Mom Beall's children: Patricia Beall Gruits, James Lee Beall, and Harry Beall.

A Hand on My Shoulder

***Click on image*** to link to the autobiography of M. D. Beall, A Hand on My Shoulder

The Layzells of Vancouver

Hugh Layzell (Reg Layzell's son) writes about his family's important role in the revival in Canada in the mid-twentieth century, plus its overseas missions activity.

Stanley Frodsham, Springfield, MO

When the Latter Rain revival broke out Frodsham was the editor of the Assembly of God's Pentecostal Evangel. Myrtle Beall invited him to see the revival's impact in her Detroit church. Frodsham was so convinced of the revival's validity that eventually it became untenable for him to remain in the AG, which did not approve the revival. *** Click on image *** to hear the audio of a sermon - "As Rain Upon the Mown Grass" - delivered by Frodsham at an Elim Bible Institute camp meeting in July 1967.

Thomas Wyatt, Portland, OR

A pastor known for his Wings of Healing radio broadcast. He was one of the elder statesmen of the Latter Rain Movement and was instrumental in the revival's missions impetus.

Max Wyatt, Salem, OR

Max, the son of Thomas Wyatt, pastored Faith Tabernacle in Salem and also served as a missionary to Africa.

Winston Nunes, Tacoma, WA

Encountered Latter Rain activity in Vancouver in 1948. Went on to pastor in Toronto, Canada. Recognized as an outstanding Bible teacher.

Ivan Q. Spencer's biography

Willow in the Wind: A Spiritual Pilgrimmage by Marion Meloon chronicles the life of the founder of Elim Bible Institute. Spencer was one of the LRM's elder statesmen.

Elim Bible Institute, Lima, NY

Elim was founded by Ivan Q. Spencer in 1924. It has been known over the decades for its integrity, missions emphasis, spirituality, and a desire for true unity in body of Christ.

Alton Earl Lee, Los Angeles, CA

Pastored Immanuel Gospel Temple and was known for ministering the gift of healing. Both he and his wife Rhoda were powerfully effective preachers.

Violet Kiteley, Oakland, CA

She was present in the early days of the revival outbreak in North Battleford. She pastored an influential church in Oakland. Among other things, Violet is remembered for her pioneering leadership in worship symposiums.

E. Charlotte Baker, Seattle, WA

Charlotte and Violet Kiteley did street ministry together at Glad Tidings in Vancouver, pastored by Reg Layzell. She went on to pastor King's Temple in Seattle. She also helped to establish a Bible school in Ghana. Well-known for her prophetic parables. Photo provided by Gary and Louise Short.

Edie Iverson, Portland, Oregon

Attended the bible school in North Battleford during the second year of the revival. Pastored Bible Temple in Portland with her husband, Dick. She was the author of two well-known choruses - Thanks be to God and The Lord Reigneth.

Rozella & Leonard Fox, San Bernardino, CA

Leonard pastored in California and was involved in African missions. He is remembered as a great preacher.

Longest-living LR minister

Currently 102 years old and living in Atlanta, Donald Murphy formerly pastored in Miami. *** Click on image *** to hear a recording of Donald prophesying and then reminiscing about how he came to be involved in the LRM. Photo is the property of Larry Davis, Marietta, Georgia.

A. W. Rasmussen, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Founder of the Independent Assemblies of God International. Host of a Latter Rain convention in Edmonton in October 1948. Ern Baxter said of that convention, "I never saw such a concentration of the power of God."

Joseph Mattsson-Boze, Chicago, IL

A native of Sweden, he pastored the Philadelphia Church in Chicago. Edited the Herald of Faith magazine that merged with Gerald Derstine's Harvest Time magazine.

Revival Artifacts ...

***Click on image*** to go to another of my websites, Revival Artifacts, which features Latter Rain Movement ministers, plus Charismatics like Jamie Buckingham, Bob Mumford, and Mark Rutland, and Pentecostals like Jack Hayford

Moses Vegh's autobiography

Vegh pastored for many years in Findlay, Ohio. When he met his wife Betty she was a member of the Bethesda Missionary Temple. Moses relates how he traveled the world preaching, even praying personally for Boris Yeltsin.

Ernest Gentile, San Jose, CA

Ernest first experienced the LRM as a 20-year-old at Crescent Beach, BC in 1950. Ernest is the author of several edifying and enlightening books. He and his wife Anna pastor in New Mexico.

Includes LRM history

The author, Ernest Gentile, first experienced the revival in British Columbia in 1950. Gentile is both a prophet and a teacher. He tells about M. D. Beall saying he is a "seer". This book is a splendid resource for the study of prophecy.

Latter Rain affects China!

Includes a chapter entitled, "The Latter Rain Movement and China's Revival". Balcombe was prophesied over by Reg Layzell, Violet Kiteley, and David Schoch. Schoch said in 1963 that Balcombe would minister in Red China - he did, beginning in 1978!

Dennis & Kathy Balcombe, China

Violet Kiteley, Reg Layzell, and David Schoch all prophesied over Dennis Balcombe. In 1963, Schoch said Balcombe would ministry in Red China - and beginnning in 1978 he did!

missions in West Africa

Paul Cannon shares how revival came to West Africa. This is a thrilling story of God's love and his power to deliver.

Paul & Mildred Cannon, Decatur, IL

Missionaries to West Africa & pastors in the United States. In 1953, Paul graduated from Thomas Wyatt's Bethesda Bible Institute.

Sixto Lopez, Latin America

Sixto utilized radio broadcasting in his missions to Cuba and Colombia. He and Carlton Spencer and other Elim ministers traveled to Detroit in February 1949 to witness the revival services. Part of his report of the services was the "brokenness, yieldedness ... and a flow of love and fellowship" that they experienced.

Vera Ludlum Bachle, Detroit, MI

Vera told Myrtle Beall about a revival that was taking place in Canada in 1948, and they both went to Vancouver in November to see for themselves what was happening. She was an evangelist who preached in all 50 states and in every Canadian province.

Mom & Pop Beall, Detroit, MI

Mom Beall was the founder of the Bethesda Missionary Temple, and she and her family provided leadership for many ministries that sought the Lord in revival. The anointing that was on her preaching and praying is unforgettable.

M. D. Beall - FULL obituary

*** Click on image *** to read the Detroit Free Press' full obituary for Mom Beall that ran in the FP September 21, 1979 edition.

M. D. Beall obituary (small portion)

Detroit News (September 21, 1979)

Patricia Beall Gruits, Detroit, MI

Gruits, the daughter of Latter Rain pioneer M. D. 'Mom' Beall, founded RHEMA International, an educational and medical mission in Haiti, with her late husband, J. Peter Gruits. She is the author of the best-selling catechism, Understanding God.

Classic LRM catechism

Over ONE MILLION copies of Patricia Beall Gruits' catechism have been distributed.

James Lee Beall, Detroit, MI

James Beall was one of the most sought after speakers in both the Latter Rain Movement and the Charismatic Movement. He preached on all the continents but Antartica.

An interview with James Lee Beall

***Click on image*** to read the complete interview James Lee Beall gave to Pathfinders in 1983

has commentary by James Lee Beall

Three of the contributors have LRM connections - James Lee Beall (commentary on the Pastoral Epistles), Dick Iverson (commentary on the Psalms), and Charles Green (an article on "The Pathway of Praise and Worship"). This study bible was edited by Jack Hayford. *click on image* to view an excerpt from the Book of Genesis.

Harry M. Beall, Detroit, MI

An associate pastor and minister of music at Bethesda Missionary Temple. His rich baritone voice was utilized both as a soloist and a worship leader.

Eleanor & Paul Stern, Kenya

Paul and his wife Eleanor were missionaries sent out from Bethesda Missionary Temple. They later pastored in Danville, Illinois.

The Stallwoods, Nigeria

Bruce, Lucinda, and sons were missionaries sent out from Bethesda Missionary Temple.

Owen Shackett, Tacoma, WA

This is Owen's 1951 graduation photo from the Bethesda Bible Institute in Detroit. He went on to pastor the large People's Church in Tacoma.

Ollie McCubbin, Sandusky, Ohio

Sent out from the Bethesda Missionary Temple to pastor in Sandusky.

Elton Weatherly, Ypsilanti, MI

Founded Bethesda Bible Church (now, Bethesda Church) in 1961 with his wife, Judith.

Fred Poole, Philadelphia, PA

Originally from Wales, Poole pastored Philadelphia Gospel Temple, one of the earliest churches to embrace the Latter Rain revival. ***Click on image*** to hear one of Poole's sermons.

Clair Hutchins, Chicago, IL

Hutchins, who pastored Beulah Temple, was well known as a singer and a preacher. His daughter is Carol Cymbala, the leader of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

Paul & Lura Grubb, Memphis, TN

Pastors of Faith Temple

Graham Truscott, San Diego, CA

Graham and Pamela Truscott led Restoration Temple in San Diego. Graham authored several books.

William Faupel, Naples, Florida

Devoted 125 pages of his PhD dissertation to the LRM. Past president of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

Richard Riss, Newark, NJ

Author of Latter Rain: The Latter Rain movement of 1948 and the Mid-Twentieth Century Evangelical Awakening, the most extensive account of the LRM of 1948. Professor of history at Pillar College.

Richard Riss' LRM history

Weak on the Bethesda Missionary Temple part of the story because the author did not have access to most of Bethesda's primary source materials due to a fire at the church in 1962.

More history from Riss

Includes coverage of the Azusa Street revival, the LRM of 1948, and the Charismatic movement.

Riss' article in AG Heritage

*** Click on image *** to access Richard Riss' article entitled, "The New Order of the Latter Rain: A Look at the Revival Movement on Its 40th Anniversary" in the Assemblies of God publication, Heritage (fall 1987 edition). The .pdf link downloads the entire 20-pages of that issue. Riss' article begins on page 15.

Revival Church perspective

The author, Dick Iverson, was the founder of Bible Temple and Portland Bible College in Portland, Oregon. His wife, Edie, attended the Bible college in North Battleford, Saskatchewan.

Daily Devotional by Ivan Q. Spencer

These devotions by Ivan Spencer were first published in The Elim Pentecostal Herald. Included is an editorial he wrote concerning the Latter Rain revival, entitled, "The Custodians" (originally, "Who are the Custodians of the Latter Rain?")

Sees LRM as the precursor to the Charismatic Movement

More than just a recounting of the LRM though, this is Hamon's survey of all of the Church's history.

Canadian LRM backgrounds

The chapters on the LRM were written by William Faupel and Mark Hutchinson.

Glad Tidings, Vancouver, Canada

Site of a revival outbreak in November 1948. Pastor Reg Layzell hosted the Hawtin brothers from Saskatchewan. Myrtle Beall was among those prophesied over.

Nellie & Reg Layzell, Vancouver, BC

Hosted the Hawtin brothers for revival services in 1948. Pastored Glad Tidings Church in Vancouver. Reg was one of the LRM's elder statesmen and was known for his balance, integrity, and his teaching on the "sacrifice of praise."

Hugh & Audrey Layzell, British Columbia

Missionaries to Uganda. Hugh also pastored in Hamilton, Ontario. They authored the book Sons of His Purpose which includes much of the history of the 1948 revival in western Canada.

Kayy Gordon, Nunavut, Canada

Kayy Gordon left her home church (Glad Tidings in Vancouver) at 22 years old to start an effective and enduring mission in the Arctic.

James Routley, Chilliwack, BC

Jim pastored Pentecostal Tabernacle in Chilliwack and was an early associate of George Hawtin and Reg Layzell.

Sharon Orphanage and Schools, North Battleford, Saskatchewan

The site of the initial outbreak of revival in February 1948.

Sharon Orphanage & Schools

*Click on image* to see the original September 1947 letter (it is a .pdf file) from George Hawtin, Percy Hunt, and Herrick Holt announcing the opening of the facilities in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. The facilities were the site of the revival that broke out six months later in February 1948.

The Sharon Star

The Sharon Star was the publication that came from the revival site in North Battleford, Saskatchewan. It is printed monthly to this day. *** Click on image *** to view current and past issues (only as far back as the year 2000, though).

George & Rhoda Hawtin, Saskatchewan

Jim Watt says George was the undisputed leader of the revival outbreak in North Battleford.

Ern & Jessie Hawtin, Saskatchewan

Ern was George Hawtin's brother and also a prominent prophet in North Battleford.

George Warnock, Canada

Author of "The Feast of Tabernacles".

Marie & Jim Watt, Seattle, WA

Jim was one of the original seven elders at the work in North Battleford. He also served for a time as Ern Baxter's secretary.

Milford Kirkpatrick, Saskatchewan

Present at the revival outbreak in North Battleford. He served as a missionary to Japan.